The Health Care Cost Institute issued a short report on the enrollees and services that generate a disproportionate share of spending in commercial health insurance plans. The assessment spans from 2012 to 2015 and encompasses more than 9 million enrollees under age 65. The top 5 percent of spenders generated more than 50 percent of spending in each year studied, but there was considerable turnover among them.

CMMI Cancels Beneficiary Engagement Model

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation Center announced the cancellation of the Direct Decision Support Model. The model was established to test whether engaging Medicare beneficiaries about their overall health and specific clinical conditions outside the clinical care setting would have a positive impact on decision making, utilization and cost of care.

CMS Releases Overview And Upcoming Events For BPCI Advanced

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services published a fact sheet about the Bundled Payments for Care Improvement Advanced. The fact sheet includes an overview of the program, key milestones and dates, key stakeholders, and details about how the program will be structured. CMS also has released recordings and upcoming events about BPCI Advanced, including the following.

HRSA Offers NURSE Corps Loan Repayment Program

The Health Resources & Services Administration’s NURSE Corps Loan Repayment Program offers loan repayment assistance to registered nurses, nurse practitioners, advanced practice nurses and nursing school faculty who agree to work in underserved areas. HRSA encourages interested applicants to read the application instructions, which are available on the program website.

Consider This ...

Missouri's number of lab-positive flu cases has reached more than 66,000 cases this season. Fifty-four outbreaks of influenza or influenza-like illness and six influenza or influenza-associated school closures have been reported.